Monday, July 05, 2004

Protect Thyself

As the state becomes more intrusive, in supposedly benign ways, i.e. cameras at intersections, utilization of heat sensors on private residences, eavesdropping, asking for your papers, comrade, its nice to know that there are private companies innovating new materials which can be put to good use by private individuals.

"Frazee doesn’t worry about the Science Medicus windows any longer. The company installed a thin, transparent film called Armorcoat, manufactured by Bekaert Specialty Films LLC, on each window.

Testing at Kirtland Air Force Base in 2000, conducted by Applied Research Associates Inc., showed that the film keeps glass shards from flying through buildings even when a 500-pound bomb explodes outside."

Pretty cool.  “Film Makes Glass Tough as Armor."

Via Claire Wolfe.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/05 at 10:20 AM
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Ah, Summer

On July 5, 1946, Louis Reard introduced the world to the bikini. The Brazilians, took the bikini to a whole new level.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/05 at 07:37 AM
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A Couple of Interesting Links

Over the weekend, a friend mentioned a site called DeadMalls.com, which I wandered through for a bit and thought of the first snow I experienced in Philly in 1976.  Three inches of snow fell, and shut the city down.  As a Michigander, I found that amusing, and was one of only about fifty people in the King of Prussia mall that day.

Another interesting site, Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields. Information which could come in handy for pilots, or other individuals in need of large open spaces.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/05 at 05:27 AM
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Now That The Party Is Over

The fireworks have been spent, the oohs and aahs have drifted away with the wind, and though the national anthem proclaims that through bombs bursting in air, the flag was still there, the idea of freedom and independence, as considered by men such as Jefferson and Washington, is as spent as the fireworks which lit last night’s skies.  If individuals hope to remain independent, to remain individuals, to be free, they would do well to consider the following pieces.

R. Lee Wrights, asks, “Is the Spirit of ‘76 Dead?"

Roderick T. Long, asks, “What Mean These Stones?"

Harry Browne posits “Uncelebrating the Fourth."

Posted by John Venlet on 07/05 at 04:48 AM
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Sunday, July 04, 2004

Deceptively Sharp Edge

The brain.  Why are human brains so large, comparatively speaking, when compared to other primates, and other critters in the animal kingdom?  Are humans’ large brains, typically very under-utilized, simply the result of a genetic or evolutionary fluke, or is some other factor, or item, the culprit?

In an interesting article written by Carl Zimmer, titled “Machivallian Monkeys," Zimmer alerts us to recent research by primatologists which suggests humans’ large brain size is the result of the knife.

"It was only after hominoids began making butchering tools out of stones and got a steady supply of meat from carcasses that the brain began to expand."

And don’t forget the deception, to keep a sharp edge.

Via triticale.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/04 at 11:42 AM
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Wonderful Toys

When I was a kid, I had a few action figure toys, G.I. Joes of course, and it’s unfortunate that I played with them so hard.  Wanting to provide a sense of realism to the G.I. Joes, after battle, they suffered from missing limbs and other physical injuries.  Of course these modifications drastically reduced their value as a collector’s item in today’s market.  But, if the toys suggested by Shonk, actually come to market, I could start a whole new collection.

I wonder how these two would get along?

"Activist Chad: a student at an obscure New England private college who uses his Spring Break to disrupt IMF and World Bank meetings. Comes complete with gas mask, spray paint (for protest signs), smoke bombs, and multiple ticket stubs from last night’s showing of Farenheit 9-11. Saul Alinsky’s, Rules For Radicals not included."

and

"Patriotic Jim: Though he’s never been in the military, this trailer-park denizen idolizes soldiers and refers to them as “our boys”. Comes complete with semi-auto rifle, stained wifebeater and membership in the Republican Party. Passing grade from gun-safety course not included."

But I think I’d really like a couple of these, strictly as collector items, to set on my bookshelf.

"shonk: an inveterate cynic who devotes his time to sarcastic criticism rather than doing any actual work. Comes complete with over-used, expensive laptop, excessive free time and contempt for pretty much everybody. Original ideas not included."

“Modern times call for modern action figures."

Posted by John Venlet on 07/04 at 11:07 AM
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Greenhouse Gas-Bags

Greenhouse gases, the accumulation of, have been heralded as leading to the demise of the earth’s atmosphere.  Warnings have abounded, dire predictions have been formulated, and glacier huggers have waxed eloquent, while glaciers have waned, supposedly to never wax again, and it’s all the fault of humans, or is it?

"The data set of proxies of past climate used in Mann, Bradley and Hughes (1998, “MBH98” hereafter) for the estimation of temperatures from 1400 to 1980 contains collation errors, unjustifiable truncation or extrapolation of source data, obsolete data, geographical location errors, incorrect calculation of principal components and other quality control defects. We detail these errors and defects. We then apply MBH98 methodology to the construction of a Northern Hemisphere average temperature index for the 1400-1980 period, using corrected and updated source data. The major finding is that the values in the early 15th century exceed any values in the 20th century. The particular “hockey stick” shape derived in the MBH98 proxy construction – a temperature index that decreases slightly between the early 15th century and early 20th century and then increases dramatically up to 1980—is primarily an artefact of poor data handling, obsolete data and incorrect calculation of principal components."

Via J. Bowen at No Watermelons Allowed, via Greenie Watch.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/04 at 10:55 AM
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Another Fourth of July Message

"As we celebrate both our country’s independence and our individual independence on the Fourth of July, we should never forget that this independence is galling to those who want us to be dependent on them."

Ya got that?

The above quote is from this Thomas Sowell piece.

Via PrestoPundit.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/04 at 04:38 AM
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"Don't Worry, Be Happy"

Remember that annoying Bobby McFerrin tune, used as the title to this post?  Unfortunately, I do too.  Well, here’s a more nuanced view on happiness, its history, and connotations.  The piece mentions sages, throughout the ages, and their views on what it takes to be happy.  I’m happy to share this excerpt.

"We need only think of the word itself: in every Indo-European language, the modern words for happiness, as they took shape in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, are all cognate with luck. And so we get ‘happiness’ from the early Middle English (and Old Norse) happ–chance, fortune, what happens in the world–and the Mittelhochdeutsch Glück, still the modern German word for happiness and luck. There is the Old French heur (luck; chance), root of bonheur (happiness), and heureux (happy); and the Portuguese felicidade, the Spanish felicidad, and the Italian felicità–all derived ultimately from the Latin felix for luck (sometimes fate). Happiness, in a word, is what happens to us. If we no longer say that we are kakodaimon when things don’t go our way, we still sometimes acknowledge, rather more prosaically, that “shit happens.”

“From the happiness of virtue to the virtue of happiness: 400 b.c.– a.d.1780."

Posted by John Venlet on 07/04 at 04:27 AM
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The Seal of Quality

There’s the Good Housekeeping Seal of quality, there’s Underwriters Laboratories seal of quality, and good old Consumers Reports, but I’m wondering, what Dutch individuals will stamp their seal quality on the following services.

"The Dutch government backs plans for “seals of quality” for well-run brothels and standard contracts for prostitutes, as well as more support for those who want to leave the world’s oldest profession, it said on Friday."

Uh, were here, from the govmint, to inspect your worthiness for the seal of quality.  Are the girls ready?

“‘Seal of Quality’ for Better Brothels?"

Posted by John Venlet on 07/04 at 04:03 AM
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John Kerry Prepares to Enforce Hillary's "We’re going to take things away from you on behalf of.."

See photo.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/04 at 03:46 AM
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The Fourth of July

I wonder, how many Americans, actually realize that American independence was declared over matters quite similar to this.

“Don’t get caught bringing out-of-state cigarettes into Michigan."

"One of the most talked about taxes in a long time has caused a little confusion.

One pack, two packs, a carton...how many cigarettes can you bring into Michigan without breaking the law? 24 Hour News 8 went to Fremont, Indiana in search of the answer...one that might surprise you.

Cigarette stores are busy with people from Michigan trying to save money on cigarettes. “I mean, you’re looking at $5.55 for a tax stamp here versus $20 in Michigan,” Charlotte Rodriguez, a store manager, told 24 Hour News 8.

The problem is when you come back across the border. You still have to pay the $2 tax on any pack of cigarettes that has an out-of-state stamp, plus a $2 penalty, bringing the total to an extra $4 for one pack."

Independence, hey?

Posted by John Venlet on 07/04 at 03:40 AM
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Friday, July 02, 2004

Oh August Body, Defend Amerika's Freedom

"Recalling the long, drawn out process in the southern state, nine lawmakers, including four blacks and one Hispanic, sent a letter Thursday to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asking that the international body “ensure free and fair elections in America,” according to a statement issued by Florida representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, who spearheaded the effort."

Jeebus.

“US lawmakers request UN observers for November 2 presidential election."

Via Drudge.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/02 at 11:44 AM
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Village Idiots

The “common good,” the “global village,” socialistic premises embraced by a very large of percentage of politicians, and the sheeple baaing at their gates, deserve to be overrun. 

David Masten, in a post at Catallarchy, points out a glaring embracement of these concepts, at the expense of the individual, in the book The Cluetrain Manifesto, and shares a personal reflection on why the individual is the key.

"I was not raised by some amorphous village. Really. I was brought into this world by two individuals. No two other individuals could ever replace them. There is no other woman like my mom, and no other man like my father. Other individuals influenced my life, Miss Muster who carefully cultivated my interested in science and science fiction, Mrs. Kosinsky who showed me the censored letters from her husband in communist Poland, Mr Stetler whose “science club” was really only about the practical application of ballistics, my track and cross-country coach Aunt Beth, though she was not the “official” coach, or any of the other individuals who shaped my life. All are individuals, the replacement of any of them with someone else would have made for an entirely different me. I was not raised by some group of faceless villagers."

David’s post is titled “A Clue-by-Four for The Cluetrain Manifesto."

Posted by John Venlet on 07/02 at 04:01 AM
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On Evolutionary Findings

The study of evolution consumes many individuals’ time and thoughts.  The evidence in support of Darwin’s theory, depending upon whom you speak with, is either rock solid, or rudimentary at best.  I don’t think the supporting evidence discovered, so far, has definitively provided the answer to the theory’s validity.  I agree with the following statement, uttered by one Fred Spoor, regarding a recently discovered fossil skull, and its place in the evolutionary debate.

"Spoor notes that the paucity of the fossil record means that many conjectures about Homo erectus remain unproven."

“Petite skull reopens human ancestry debate."

Also via Drudge.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/02 at 02:27 AM
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